SIMCOE MUSKOKA – Beginning April 2022, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) in partnership with local school boards, is offering school-based catch-up clinics for routine immunizations for Hepatitis B, Meningococcal Conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV-9).

This publicly funded, routine immunization program is normally offered to students in Grade 7; however, pandemic-related disruptions have caused delays in offering these annual school-based clinics and as a result students may be behind on their routine and required immunizations. 

School-based immunization clinics will be offered to students in Grade 9 and 10 across Simcoe Muskoka secondary schools and for Grade 8 students in some elementary schools in the Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Parents and guardians will receive information regarding upcoming catch-up clinics from their child’s school.

The health unit advises getting immunized according to the publicly funded immunization schedule for Ontario. Having up-to-date immunizations help ensure that children and adolescents have the best protection against certain preventable diseases and help reduce the risk of outbreaks in school. 

Meningococcal disease is a mandatory immunization under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, while Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are strongly recommended.

For more information about vaccines that are given in Grade 7 and the diseases they prevent, please visit smdhu.org. You can also speak with a public health professional by calling Health Connection, 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

-30-